Deck lid hinge assembly

Abstract

A hinge assembly for mounting to a body structure of a vehicle a movable closure panel granting access to a compartment. A compact area in the compartment is defined by a partition dividing from the passenger compartment, a leading edge of the closure panel and a raised floor in the compartment. The hinge assembly has a bracket mounted to the body structure in the compact area of the compartment and projecting under the leading edge of the closure panel. The bracket has a pair of plates each having a guide slot. A hinge strap is interposed between the two plates of the bracket and has an end secured to the closure panel near the leading edge. A first guide roller is carried by the other end of the hinge strap and is slideably received by one of the guide slots for slideable movement of the other end of the hinge strap relative to the body structure. A second guide roller is carried by a connection point, located between the two ends of the hinge strap, and is slideably received by the other guide slot for slideable movement of the connection point relative to the body structure so that the hinge strap rotates relative to the body structure as the hinge strap slideably move. As the closure panel moves from the closed position to the open position, the leading edge of the closure panel shifts away from the body structure.

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed are defined as follows: 
     
       1. A hinge assembly for mounting a closure panel with an edge on a body structure of a vehicle, the hinge assembly comprising: a pair of stationary guide paths carried by the body structure;   a hinge strap having a first end secured to the closure panel in proximity to the edge, a second end and a connection point located between the two ends;   first guide means carried by the second end of the hinge strap and slideably retained by one of the guide paths for slideable movement of the second edge of the hinge strap relative to the body structure; and   second guide means carried by the connection point of the hinge strap and slideably retained by the other guide path for slideable movement of the connection point relative to the body structure so that the hinge strap rotates relative to the body structure as the second end and the connection point of the hinge strap slideably moves whereby the opening movement of the closure panel will shift the edge of the closure panel away from the body structure.   
     
     
       2. In an automotive vehicle having a body structure and a closure panel movable from a generally horizontal closed position to an open position to access a compartment and the closure panel having a leading edge, a hinge assembly comprising: a bracket mounted to the body structure and projecting under the leading edge of the closure panel, and the bracket having a pair of plates with each plate having a guide slot;   a hinge strap interposed between the two plates of the brackets having a first end secured to the closure panel near the leading edge and the hinge strap having a second end and a connection point located between the two ends;   a first guide means carried by the second end of the hinge strap and slideably received by one of the guide slots for slideable movement of the second end of the hinge strap relative to the body structure; and   a second guide means carried by the connection point of the hinge strap and slideably received by the other guide slot for slideable movement of the connection point relative to the body structure so that the hinge strap rotates relative to the body structure as the second end and the connection point of the hinge strap slideably move whereby as the closure panel moves from the closed position to the open position the leading edge of the closure panel shifts away from the body structure.   
     
     
       3. In an automotive vehicle having a body structure and a closure panel movable from a generally horizontal closed position to an open position to access a luggage compartment, and the closure panel having a forward edge that extends generally parallel to a lower edge of a window with the closure panel having a pair of wing tips formed at the corners of the forward edge in proximity to the lower corners of the window and a partition dividing the luggage compartment from a passenger compartment, and a compact area in the luggage compartment defined by the partition, the forward edge of the closure panel and a raised floor in the luggage compartment, a hinge assembly comprising: a bracket mounted to the body structure in the compact area of the luggage area and projecting under the forward edge of the closure panel, and the bracket having a pair of plates depending downward with each plate having a guide slot;   a hinge strap of a general gooseneck shape interposed between the two plates of the bracket having a first end secured to the closure panel near the forward edge and the hinge strap having a second end and a connection point located between the two ends;   a first guide means carried by the second end of the hinge strap and slideably received by one of the guide slots for slideable movement of the second end of the hinge strap relative to the body structure;   a second guide means carried by the connection point of the hinge strap and slideably movement of the connection point relative to the body structure so that the hinge strap rotates relative to the body structure as the second end and the connection point of the hinge strap slideably move; and   a biasing means having a first end carried in the compact area of the luggage compartment by the body structure and a second end mounted to the second guide means for biasing the second guide means and the connected hinge strap in an upward and rearward motion whereby as the closure panel is opened the biasing means biases the second guide means upward and rearward in the other guide slot and the first guide means moves rearward in one of the guide slots moving the hinge strap generally to the rear and upward and the wing tips moving rearward away from the window.   
     
     
       4. A hinge assembly as in claim 3 wherein: one of the guide slots extends generally horizontally and the other guide slot extends generally upward as it extends rearward from the partition and the raised floor towards the opening; and   the guide means are a pair of rollers, each roller mounted on a shaft carried by the hinge strap and the rollers are slideably received in the guide slots.